Diane Paulus, Lea DeLaria & More Set to Speak at TEDXBROADWAY on 2/24

The third-annual TEDxBroadway-a one-day event about the highest aspirations of Broadway - returns Monday, February 24th, 2014 at New World Stages in New York City.

"TEDxBroadway invites everyone who has an interest in Broadway to participate in shaping its future," said Jim McCarthy, CEO of Goldstar and an organizer of the event. "Certainly, Broadway is most often associated with theatre but, it's also a place where many industries and people intersect. Our goal is to present positive ideas that will benefit the entire Broadway ecosystem."

Sold out in both 2012 and 2013, in 2014 TEDxBroadway asks experts to address one question, "What's the best Broadway can be?"

Speakers at this year's event include (additional speakers will be announced later):

-Diane Paulus, Artistic Director of the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University and 2013 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical

-David Drake, founder and chairman of LDJ Capital, a private equity advisory firm, and of The Soho Loft, an event-driven global financial media company and author of Crowd Fund Economics

-Dan Gurney, CEO and founder of Concert Window and a six-time United States Champion on the button accordion

"TEDxBroadway asks everyone to hit the pause button in their busy lives and think about things from a long term, bigger perspective," said Damian Bazadona, founder of Situation Interactive. "I've been inspired by the two events we've done and encouraged by those who got something out of the day and are implementing those ideas now."

"TEDxBroadway isn't an arts conference or a theatre conference," adds producer Ken Davenport. "We're talking about the whole neighborhood, the whole Broadway ecosystem, and so it's broader than just arts or theatre. True to the TED format, we pull speakers from vast perspectives, varying expertise - all with ideas worth sharing."